TAGUIG CITY — Vice President Sara Z. Duterte on Tuesday joined the Singaporean community in the country as they celebrated the 57th Singapore National Day.

Speaking to a crowd of hundreds gathered at the Hyatt Hotel, Duterte expressed her admiration for Singapore’s development amidst diversity of culture.

“Singapore has always been close to my heart. We have always admired the development, peace and order, as well as the balance of tradition and modernity whenever I visit your beautiful country,” Duterte said.

“I am pleased to know that our governments have sustained our close cooperation through the years. It is my hope that our relations with Singapore will continue to flourish and that our engagements would further expand during the current administration,” she added.

She said Singapore “continues to be an important partner in developing our country’s fuel resources through capacity-building programs.”

“In the last three years, there have been 57 scholars for foreign training under the Singapore Cooperation Program,” she added.

Duterte, who is also Secretary of Education, said the Philippines “has so much to learn from Singapore’s education system which is considered as one of the best in the world.”

Meanwhile, His Excellency Gerard Ho, Singapore’s Ambassador to the Philippines, thanked Filipinos in Singapore “who make sacrifices and contributed a lot in the most difficult times.”

“Special shoutout to the frontline health care workers of the Philippines who did an amazing job in Singapore. Thank you, Philippines,” the ambassador said.

Aside from the Singaporeans, Philippine government officials, members of the diplomatic and consular corps, and business community also witnessed the event.

OVP MEDIA